How To Curb Cravings

I know the image above makes you want to go out right now and buy a burger, but the point of this article is to learn how you can fight that temptation! When you set out a goal to follow a healthy lifestyle, you have to stick to it and not splurge any chance you get. There is such a thing as cheat days, but you don't want to do it too often and that's why you have to learn how to control yourself when it comes to cravings.

Being able to resist cravings is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and helps you get to your goals sooner. I have listed a few things to do in case you are having trouble resisting those cravings.

1. Drink Water:

• Thirst is often confused w/hunger or food cravings.
  
• Foods high w/water content tends to look larger, it's higher volume requires more chewing, and it is absorbed more slowly by the body, which helps you feel full.
  
• When muscle cells don't have adequate fluids, they don't work as well and performance can suffer.
  

• You reduce the hunger hormone & boost several satiety hormones.
  
• This leads to a major reduction in hunger.
  
• Protein functions as building blocks for bones, muscles, cartilage, skin & blood.
  
• Can reduce cravings by 60% & out the desire to snack at night by 50%.
  

• Try walking away and distract yourself by chewing gum or talking to someone.
  

• Cook a week's worth of meals and store it in your fridge.
  
• By already knowing what you're going to eat, you eliminate the factor of spontaneity & uncertainty.
  

• Eat regularly & have healthy snacks close at hand.
  
• By being prepared & avoiding long periods of hunger, you may be able to prevent the craving from showing up at all.
  

• Stress may induce food cravings.
  
• Stress raises your blood level of cortisol, a hormone that can make you gain weight, especially in the belly area.
  

• Helps delay fat digestion, which increases levels of hormones that reduce appetite and hunger.
  
• Studies show that taking 3.7-5g of spinach extract w/a meal may reduce appetite & cravings for several hours.
  

• If you have been good to yourself and have been veering away from all the cravings, but one day you are struggling to stay away, give in a little, take a small bite, or have a one slice.
• Enjoying a little of what you love can help steer you of feeling denied!
  
• But if you do decide to give in a little, just remember to work a little extra hard at the gym! ;)